Castle Toward facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle Toward |
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Caisteal an Toll Àird
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Castle Toward
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| General information | |
| Status | Private |
| Type | Country House |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Location | Toward, Cowal, Argyll and Bute, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Coordinates | 55°52′10″N 5°00′50″W / 55.869554°N 5.0140108°W |
| Construction started | 1820 |
| Client | Kirkman Finlay |
| Owner |
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| Technical details | |
| Material | Stone |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | David Hamilton |
| National | |
Castle Toward (which means Caisteal an Toll Àird in Gaelic) is a large country house built in the 1800s. It sits on the southern tip of the Cowal peninsula in Scotland. From the castle, you can look out over Rothesay Bay.
A rich merchant from Glasgow named Kirkman Finlay built the castle in 1820. It was built to replace an even older castle called Toward Castle. The original Toward Castle was the historic home of the Clan Lamont. The newer Castle Toward was made much bigger in the early 1900s. During World War II, it was used as a special training base for soldiers. After the war, it became an outdoor education center for children. It was run by Glasgow City Council and later Argyll and Bute Council. The center closed in 2014. After some debate, the castle and its land were sold to private owners in 2016.
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History of Castle Toward
The Original Toward Castle
The first Toward Castle was built in the 1400s. It belonged to the Clan Lamont family until 1809. The castle was made larger in the 1600s. But it was left empty after the Clan Campbell attacked it in 1646.
Today, the ruins of this old castle are about 500 meters (about 550 yards) south-east of the newer Castle Toward. The old Toward Castle is a protected historic site.
Building the New Castle Toward
The Castle Toward you see today was built in 1820. It was built for Kirkman Finlay (1773–1842). He used to be the Lord Provost of Glasgow, which is like a mayor. He wanted a country home for his family.
Finlay bought the land in 1818 and named it Toward. The castle was designed by an architect named David Hamilton. It was built in a style called Gothic Revival. This style makes new buildings look like old castles.
Later, a man named Major Andrew Coats owned the castle. His family was famous for making thread in Paisley. He made the castle even bigger. In the 1920s, beautiful Italian plasterwork was added to the main rooms. An architect named Francis William Deas helped restore and enlarge the whole building. He also designed most of the gardens and outdoor areas. The castle grounds include the ruins of the first Toward Castle. They also have Chinese ponds, wooded areas, and access to the shore. You can see great views over the Firth of Clyde.
Castle Toward as a War Training Centre
During World War II, the castle was taken over by the military. It became a training center for special operations. It was named HMS Brontosaurus in 1942. Soldiers trained there for the D-Day landings. They also prepared for other important raids.
Officers and men practiced using different landing boats on nearby beaches. Famous leaders like Winston Churchill and Lord Mountbatten visited HMS Brontosaurus. The training center closed in 1946.
An Outdoor Education Centre
In 1948, the Corporation of Glasgow bought the castle and its 226 acres (about 0.9 square kilometers) of woodland. At first, it was a school for children getting better after being sick. It also helped children from difficult home situations.
For 50 years, it was an outdoor education center. Children from Glasgow and other areas came for residential trips. They learned about nature and outdoor skills. When local government changed in 1996, Argyll and Bute Council took over the castle.
The center offered many activities. These included high ropes courses, kayaking, and orienteering. They also did gorge walks and hill walks. The castle grounds were even used as a filming location! The children's BBC Television series Raven filmed there until 2008. The house also hosted music and art courses for young people. The Glasgow Schools' Symphony Orchestra often visited.
The castle has been a protected building since 1971. Its grounds were added to a national list of important gardens in 2007.
Sale of the Castle
On November 13, 2009, the Argyll and Bute Council temporarily closed the castle. Fire safety experts said it was not safe enough. The council then tried to sell the property several times. Local people did not want the castle to be sold.
A group called the South Cowal Community Development Company (SCCDC) formed. They wanted the community to own the castle. Their first offer was turned down in 2011. An agreement was made with a holiday company, but they pulled out in 2013.
The SCCDC tried again to buy the castle for the community. Their offer was accepted in November 2013. However, in December 2014, the Council said their offer of £865,000 was too low. The Council offered a loan instead. The SCCDC said no to this idea in January 2015. Many people signed an online petition asking the council to change its mind.
Finally, the council sold the castle in October 2016. It was sold for £1.51 million to Scottish business owners Denice Purdie and Keith Punler. They plan to restore the mansion and its grounds.
